Football sideline chain marker

ABSTRACT

A pole and chain apparatus for measuring first downs in football incorporates a pair of poles each of which at its ground engaging end mounts an integral chain support structure adapted to stride the ball and to which a respective end of the chain is attached and which structure allows the measuring pole during close first down situations to be sued in alignment with the football axis.

United States Patent Williamson [4 July 25, 1972 54] FOOTBALL SIDELINE CHAIN MARKER 882.022 3/l908 Schmidt ..33/137 R Inventor: Paul C Williamson, 2018 Dartmouth 2,060,165 1 1/1936 Borleske... ..33/46 F Dnve' Durham NC 27705 Primary Examiner-Leonard Forman 22 i Jam 197 Assistant E.\'aminer-Steven L. Stephan Attorney-B. B. Olive [21] Appl. No.: 106,693

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. ..33/289, 33/137 R A pole and chain apparatus for measuring first downs in foot- [51] .,..G0l 15/00, 601]; 3/10 ball incorporates a pair of poles each of which at its ground [58] Field of Search ..33/46 F, 137 R g g end mounts an integral Chain support Structure I adapted to stride the ball and to which a respective end of the [56] References Cited chain is attached and which structure allows the measuring pole during close first down situations to be sued in alignment UNITED STATES PATENTS with the football axis.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 301,869 7/1884 Dickenson ..33/l37R 2o 16 14 14 17% ?49 22 19 a 15 M I $15 I 1o YARDS M PATENTEBJms r912 -1O YARDS INVENTOR. Pau! C. Williamson FIG. 6

ATTORNE:

FOOTBALL SIDELINE CHAIN MARKER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to devices used in the sport of football to measure forward progress by the offensive team in a series of plays and to determine whether a first down has been earned by sufficient forward progress. More specifically, the invention relates to football sideline chains.

2. Description of the Prior Art Football sideline chains have long been used in the game of football for the measurement of yardage and the determination of first down situations. The sideline chain has consisted essentially of two vertical members, usually tubular poles, called markets which are connected by a chain that is attached to their respective bottoms. The apparatus is operated on the sideline of the football playing field. When one team begins a series of downs, one marker (hereinafter referred to as the first marker) is aligned with the leading edge of the football and the chain is pulled taut along the sideline toward the scoring goal line with the other marker (hereinafter referred to as the second marker) yards distant from the first. If the offensive team gains 10 yards of forward progress, during the series of downs, it earns another series of downs. Sometimes on a play the ball is carried so near the 10 yard distance required that a determination of whether the requirement is met is not clear with reference to the second marker on the sideline. In these situations the sideline chain is brought out onto the playing field for a more precise measurement allowed by the closer proximity of the second marker in relation to the leading edge of the football. In making measurements on the field, the official picks up the chain at the sideline at the point where the chain intersects the five yard interval line nearest the ball and places that point of the chain on the same five yard interval line on the field but in direct alignment with the balls trailing end. Only the distance along the chain between that point on the chain and the second marker (hereinafter referred to as the measuring portion) is used to make the measurements on the field and the first marker does not enter into the measurement. The measuring portion of the chain is pulled taut by pulling the second marker towards the football's leading end but the chain is of necessity deviated to the side of the football in the proximity of the football because the chain would otherwise displace the ball and ruin the measurement. A clear determination is often not possible during many of these field measurements due to the required side placement of the second marker with respect to the ball. With the second marker just tothe side of the ball, it is readily apparent that the true length of the measuring portion of the chain is not utilized in the direction of ball movement or forward progress. Also, when pulling the chain taut the officials may tilt the second marker toward the ball which introduces error. In very close situations, the officials swing the second marker to and fro to attempt a decision of whether the second marker would touch or clear the leading end of the football if the measuring portion of the chain were in direct alignment with the ball. Still, the decision in extremely close situations is an educated guess leaving one or the other team and their partisan fans and coaches disgruntled and dissatisfied. The prior art football chain devices do not provide a solution to this problem in the sideline chain which has continued to be preferred in the sport over the prior art line-of-sight devices. Surveyors chains are also unsuited to the problem. US. Pat. Nos. 1,645,707; 1,684,566 and 2,060,165 exemplify the prior art directly re lated to football sideline markers and US. Pat. No. 301,869 shows a prior art surveyors chain of background interest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention utilizes two identical markers each having two vertical members, one substantially long, and comparable to the conventional chain pole, and the other short, laterally spaced and connected by an integral horizontal member. Each marker is configured to be placed on the ground and over the ball. with the one substantially long vertical pole member ground engaged and in front of the ball, the other short vertical member ground contacted and behind the ball and the horizontal member over the ball. The horizontal and vertical members effectively form a chain support structure adapted to stride the ball. The horizontal member is located at a sufficient height to clear the maximum cross-sectional diameter of the ball. A length of chain is connected at one end to the inner vertical member of one marker and likewise at the other end to another marker. With the chain taut and fully extended during sideline usage the straight-line distance between the cen tral longitudinal axis of the substantially long vertical pole member of the first marker and the nearest surface of the substantially long vertical pole member of the second marker is ten yards. For usage on the field of play, the sideline chain of the invention is handled in the conventional manner but the second marker is capable of being placed in exact alignment with and over the ball and thereby provides a direct exact observation as to whether or not forward progress during the series of downs totals 10 yards. A true length measurement is obtained because the two vertical members of the second marker are ground contacted and rigidly connected by a horizontal member parallel to the ground which will prevent pivoting of the vertical members toward the ball when the chain is tautly pulled. As in the old sideline chains the chain is attached to the markers substantially adjacent the bottoms thereof and used just above the ground level to minimize chain droop due to gravity and the resulting deviation from true length accurate measurement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of a prior art first down measuring situation in which single vertical member markers and chain are used.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a football and a single prior art vertical member marker with a portion of chain attached to show the kind of chain alignment required in the sport of football.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a marker with the upper portion cut away constituting the preferred embodiment of the invention and being utilized in a first down measuring situation.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ground engaging member.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a sideline chain constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a first down measuring situation in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment of the invention utilized in a sideline chain is shown in FIG. 6 and consists of two identical markers connected by a chain 22. Each marker comprises a vertical member 13, to which is attached a pointed, ground engaging member 30 and a directional indicator 23. A suitable attachment means 16 rigidly and integrally connects the horizontal member 15 to the vertical member 13. Vertical member 19 is formed integral with the horizontal member 15. A safety covering 14 covers substantially all of the exposed outer edges of horizontal member 15 and vertical member 19. Safety covering 14 may be made from any energy absorbing material which tends to prevent severe bruises and laceration type injuries from contact with the outer exposed edges of members 15 and 19 when the same are cut from sheet aluminum. A strip of rubber with a grooved bottom has been found suitable for such use and may be secured to members 15 and 19 by any adhesive providing good metal to rubber bonding. As shown in HQ 3, vertical member 19 is provided with an aperture 18 through which chain 22 is secured to vertical member 19 by snap ring 21. Aperture 18 is provided substantially adjacent the bottom of member 19 so as to minimize distorting the length of chain 22 when in use and prevent inaccurate measurement due to vertical pivoting of the member I9 about aperture 18 when the chain 22 is tautly pulled.

Each vertical member 13 is basically similar to the conventional chain pole and is preferably made from tubular aluminum to provide strength. It should preferably be of lightweight, rigid and have a uniformly smooth surface. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, attachment means 16 comprises a rectangular block of metal, preferably aluminum, having an opening adapted to receive vertical member 13 throughout the length of said block and includes a slot or channel, as shown in FIG. 4, into which is snugly and slidably received one end of horizontal member I5. Multiple rivets 17 are used to rigidly secure the attachment means 16 to member 13 and member 15 to means 16. Attachment means 16 may be eliminated without departing from the invention such as by welding or by molding, casting or machining the entire marker from any material capable of providing the configuration indicated in the drawings.

Horizontal member 15 and vertical member 19 are shown (as in FIG. 3) as being integral and of one piece. This may be accomplished by cutting the configuration from a sheet of alu minumof approximately one-quarter inch thickness. Members l and 19 need be neither integral nor flat, and could be made asseparate pieces and suitably joined or could be made, for example, from tubular material similar to member 13. The bottom of member 19 is adapted for easy pivoting on sod or artificial turf, a slight curving thereof being suitable for such purpose. Member has painted thereon vertical stripes 20 which assist in making readily apparent the relative forward progress of the ofiensive team in comparison to the ten yard requirement for a first down. Such marking may, for example, be in inches and also helps spot the ball.

The direction indicator 23 is preferably a flat disc as shown in FIG. 6 upon which markings such as an arrow or triangle are applied, and are preferably cut from rigid sheets of aluminum. The ground engaging member is preferably cast or machined into the configuration of FIG. 5. Member 30 comprises a horizontal flange 37, a cylindrical opening 32 which receives member 13, side wall surface 33 which in the preferred embodiment is enlarged and integrally aligned with that portion of member 13's peripheral surface which faces the member 19 (hereinafter referred to as the measuring surface) and a bluntly curved apex 34 located at the bottom of member 30. With member 30 attached to member 13, the apex 34 extends to a level below that of the bottom of member 19 so that when member 30 is engaged in the ground, member 15 may be in a truly horizontal position. Apex 34 is in alignment with the central longitudinal axis of member 13. Surface 33 is aligned with the measuring surface but could suitably taper towards apex 34, the important criteria being to avoid any projection from member 30 which could interfere with the first down measurement by displacing the football.

In sideline operation, apex 34 of the first marker is driven into the ground in alignment with the leading end of the football at its first down location and the second marker is pulled along the sideline in the direction of forward progress until the chain 22 is pulled taut. The distance between apex 34 or the central longitudinal axis of the first marker and the measuring surface of the second marker is then l0 yards. Retention of this distance is facilitated and insured by depressing flange 37 of the second marker with the foot and thereby depressing apex 34 of the second marker a suitable distance into the ground. When measurements are required on the playing field due to questionable first down situations, the sideline chain is carried out in the conventional manner and pulled taut in direct alignment with the football. Vertical member 19 of the second marker is placed on the ground in an upright position and in alignment with the balls trailing end, and vertical member l3 of the second marker is pivoted horizontally about member 19 and into attempted alignment with the leading end of the football. If the measuring surface of the second marker (surface of member 13 facing member 19) touches the ball at the balls leading end or member 13 of the second marker otherwise touches the ball then a first down has been earned.

Thus, an objective standard is provided which eliminates the subjectivity inherent in the prior art devices as shown in FIG. 1 consisting of single vertical member markers 10 and a chain 12. An angle alpha will always exist when using the prior art device becauseas previously mentioned the marker 10 and chain 12 must be placed to the side of the football. Angle alpha is the angle of deviation from true alignment of the sideline chain with the football and must be subjectively taken into account when very close first down situations arise. The direction "of viewing marker 10 in relation to the football may often determine the result either way as is indicated by directional arrows A and B in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows that the angle alpha" of FIG. 1 is necessitated in the prior art device usage on the field because chain 12 is horizontally disposed within the height of the football. By overcoming these limitations of the prior art sideline chain, the invention provides a solution to the longfelt problem and yet retains the form of sideline chain which has been preferred over line-of-sight yardage measuring devices.

While the majority of football playing fields are of grass and sod some fields use synthetic grass." In such applications the member 30 is merely engaged with the material surface and not driven into the material. Furthermore, it should also be understood that even when playing on natural grass fields the end 30 does not necessarily have to be actually driven into the field but may merely rest on the fields surface.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A chain and pole measuring apparatus for the sport of football for sideline and on field use to determine earning of first downs, comprising:

a. a pair of pole markers each of which comprises:

1. a pole member corresponding in length to the conventional football chain pole and adapted during measuring to being held vertically and with its bottom end adapted to be engaged with the field surface,

2. a chain support structure of a suitable lightweight material rigidly and integrally formed with the pole member adjacent its bottom end, the configuration of said chain support structure providing rigid means for connecting one end of a chain at a connecting point which point during measuring is at substantially the same level as the bottom end of said pole member but spaced laterally from said pole member at a fixed distance at least slightly in excess of the length of a football, said support structure being further formed whereby during measuring the football may be placed with its longitudinal axis substantially between and aligned with the pole member and said chain connecting point but without touching any portion of said chain support structure; and

b. a chain secured at its ends to the respective connecting points of said pole marker chain support structure and having a length selected such that the distance during measuring between the vertical axis of one said pole member and the inside surface of the bottom end of the opposite pole member is l0 yards; said apparatus thereby enabling close first down determinations to be measured on the playing field with the measuring pole, football axis and chain aligned.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each said chain support structure comprises a structure whose configuration includes respective horizontal and vertical members integrally secured to the respective pole member adjacent its ground engaging end and positioned to clear the height and length of the football during measuring of close first down determination, the said vertical member terminating in a free end providing said chain connecting point and adapted to slide over the field sod during measuring.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 including a direction indicator on each said pole member.

4. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein each said chain support structure is formed of a single plate material providing said horizontal and vertical members, the horizontal member having a free end secured to a respective said pole member and the vertical member having a free end with an aperture 5 providing said chain connecting point 

1. A chain and pole measuring apparatus for the sport of football for sideline and on field use to determine earning of first downs, comprising: a. a pair of pole markers each of which comprises:
 1. a pole member corresponding in length to the conventional football chain pole and adapted during measuring to being held vertically and with its bottom end adapted to be engaged with the field surface,
 2. a chain support structure of a suitable lightweight material rigidly and integrally formed with the pole member adjacent its bottom end, the configuration of said chain support structure providing rigid means for connecting one end of a chain at a connecting point which point during measuring is at substantially the same level as the bottom end of said pole member but spaced laterally from said pole member at a fixed distance at least slightLy in excess of the length of a football, said support structure being further formed whereby during measuring the football may be placed with its longitudinal axis substantially between and aligned with the pole member and said chain connecting point but without touching any portion of said chain support structure; and b. a chain secured at its ends to the respective connecting points of said pole marker chain support structure and having a length selected such that the distance during measuring between the vertical axis of one said pole member and the inside surface of the bottom end of the opposite pole member is 10 yards; said apparatus thereby enabling close first down determinations to be measured on the playing field with the measuring pole, football axis and chain aligned.
 2. a chain support structure of a suitable lightweight material rigidly and integrally formed with the pole member adjacent its bottom end, the configuration of said chain support structure providing rigid means for connecting one end of a chain at a connecting point which point during measuring is at substantially the same level as the bottom end of said pole member but spaced laterally from said pole member at a fixed distance at least slightLy in excess of the length of a football, said support structure being further formed whereby during measuring the football may be placed with its longitudinal axis substantially between and aligned with the pole member and said chain connecting point but without touching any portion of said chain support structure; and b. a chain secured at its ends to the respective connecting points of said pole marker chain support structure and having a length selected such that the distance during measuring between the vertical axis of one said pole member and the inside surface of the bottom end of the opposite pole member is 10 yards; said apparatus thereby enabling close first down determinations to be measured on the playing field with the measuring pole, football axis and chain aligned.
 2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each said chain support structure comprises a structure whose configuration includes respective horizontal and vertical members integrally secured to the respective pole member adjacent its ground engaging end and positioned to clear the height and length of the football during measuring of close first down determination, the said vertical member terminating in a free end providing said chain connecting point and adapted to slide over the field sod during measuring.
 3. An apparatus as in claim 1 including a direction indicator on each said pole member.
 4. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein each said chain support structure is formed of a single plate material providing said horizontal and vertical members, the horizontal member having a free end secured to a respective said pole member and the vertical member having a free end with an aperture providing said chain connecting point. 